International Maritime Evacuation Coordination Begins
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced on Tuesday that Iran and Oman, working alongside the United States and neighboring countries, will start organizing a large-scale evacuation of vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the IMO, adequate safety measures are now in place to facilitate the evacuation of over 11,000 seafarers who are currently stranded in the Middle East, a situation heightened by the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran that began on February 28.
On Wednesday, Brent crude oil prices dropped significantly to $73.04 per barrel—the lowest level since just before the conflict started. Concurrently, U.S. stock markets rose as traders expressed optimism that shipping traffic through the Strait would quickly resume.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez commented that the necessary security guarantees had been established and the conditions for safe navigation had been confirmed to support these operations. He also emphasized the IMO’s commitment to safeguarding seafarers and maintaining the flow of global trade.
However, the organization pointed out that the evacuation process would be complex and time-consuming, with captains needing to remain stationary and await instructions from coordinating authorities.
Ships will have the flexibility to choose their routes and align their navigation with coastal authorities’ directions. Iran and Oman will oversee the traffic and work to prevent collisions, the IMO elaborated.
Some vessels have already departed the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, following a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran that allows 60 days for a final agreement to be reached.
Despite this, the Joint Maritime Information Center has cautioned that Iranian forces continue to monitor and harass shipping movements in the Persian Gulf.
In a cooperative effort, Iran and Oman are also discussing future oversight of the waterway, including cost control measures. Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its desire to guarantee “freedom of navigation in the strait without imposing transit fees.”
On the other hand, Iranian officials have floated the idea of charging vessels for safe passage through the strait, claiming it would be for discrete services rather than a standardized fee. Shipping experts argue that this distinction is largely superficial.
During a recent visit to the Middle East, Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that “no country” can impose charges on vessels transiting the strait, referencing established international law. Meanwhile, President Trump has suggested the possibility of implementing American tolls for passage, stating on social media recently that no such fees would be applied “unless imposed by and for the United States.”
